Teaching Team

Robert Jensen - Head Teacher
I started my teaching career as a reliever at Tui 3 in 2007 before starting my degree. I completed study at the end of 2013 and I have been working at Young Investigators since we opened in 2012. I became the Head Teacher in February 2017. Larissa and I have been together since the early 2000s, married since 2008 and I have two sons who are in their twenties. I have a diploma in Performing Arts: Drama. I worked as an actor in film and theatre for many years and in event management.
I love being an Early Childhood Teacher because I believe it is a privilege to help the children to realise their learning potential in their lifelong learning journey

Melissa Wilson - Qualified Registered Teacher
I started working with children in 2011, through the work experience course my high school was offering and I have never looked back. I have now been teaching for six years and hold a Bachelor of Teaching, Early Childhood Education, in which I completed in 2017. I started working with Tui Early Learners in early 2016, where I completed the last two years of my study. In my personal time, I live an active life; I am very family orientated and have a love of animals, big or small.
I really enjoy working in early childhood as I love knowing that I am able to support childrenâ€™s learning and development, by integrating my skills and knowledge from study into my everyday teaching practice

Kaci-Lee Mabey - Teacher in Training
Fresh out of high school when starting my degree, I am now at the end of my second year of studying towards my Bachelor of Teaching, Early Childhood Education. I have been working in early childhood since 2013, starting out with work experience in high school and gaining my NZQA certificate in ECE. I have been at Tui Early Learners since January 2017 and thoroughly enjoy working in this fantastic environment. I am fun, energetic, caring and passionate about teaching and supporting children on their learning journey. My favourite things about being an early childhood teacher is getting to know the children as individuals, observing their reactions as they discover new things and sharing these experiences with them.

Christine Elers - Qualified Registered Teacher
I started relieving at KÅhanga Reo in 2006, then worked at HÄpaitia KÅhanga Reo in Feilding from 2010. In 2015 I helped start an offsite MÄori language immersion kura in Feilding and became a high school teacher there in 2016.
I missed early childhood education and returned to this special and important development and learning time for tamariki this year here at Young Investigators. What a special place, where tamariki love learning and the environment is conducive to rich, spontaneous learning experiences.

Tanya Mcgahey - Teacher in Training
I started in childcare in 2004, had my own children and returned to childcare in 2015 after a few different careers. I am currently in the third year of a Bachelor of Teaching, ECE. I am originally from Whanganui, lived in Hawkes Bay for a while but now live in Palmerston North with my two children and partner.
I love working alongside the tamariki as they learn and develop and I feel so lucky to help play a part in that.